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McGuinty's Tuition Fee Increase Drives up National Average

TORONTO, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - A new Statistics Canada report confirms that
tuition fee increases introduced when Dalton McGuinty cancelled Ontario's
tuition fee freeze in 2006 are driving up the national average. Students call
for the new government of Ontario to roll back tuition fee increases and
reinvest in equal opportunity for all Ontario students.
"Today's report shows that Ontario students are paying the third highest
tuition fees in the country, with a rate of increase that is nearly double the
rate of inflation," said Jen Hassum, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of
Students-Ontario. "We haven't seen fee increases this steep since Mike Harris
was Premier."
The Statistics Canada report on tuition fees released today reveals that
tuition fees for Ontario undergraduate students increased by an average of
4.4% since 2006-2007, as compared to the national rate of increase of 2.8%.
Two provinces have kept tuition fees frozen again this year and, in Prince
Edward Island and Nova Scotia, fees have been reduced by nearly 10%. This
year, Ontario's undergraduate tuition fees have reached an average of $5,381,
or $6,081 including ancillary fees. In some programmes like law at the
University of Toronto, annual fees are well over $18,000.
"While other provinces are holding the line on tuition fee increases, the
McGuinty government is allowing Ontario fees to reach record levels," said
Hassum. "Polls show that 75 per cent of Ontario voters think that tuition fees
should be reduced. Dalton McGuinty has a mandate and a responsibility to roll
back his tuition fee increases and reinvest in affordable post-secondary
education."
"Not only is there a massive disparity in affordability between
provinces, but also between programmes of study. This will have a negative
impact on access as well as on academic choice," said Hassum. "A college or
university education should be a way to achieve your potential, today it would
appear that you can only become the person you can afford."
The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000
college and university students at 35 students' unions across the province.